Neillsville Edges Owen-Withee
Saturday, January 20th, 2018 -- 7:28 AM
The Neillsville boys basketball team hung on for a 46-45 win in a battle with Owen-Withee in Eastern Cloverbelt basketball on Friday night.The game was a physical contest with neither team getting more than a 6 point lead.
Neillsville held a two point halftime lead at 23-21, led by Braden Trunkel with 9 points, including 5 for 6 from the free throw line. Brandon Bennett had 8 of his game high 19 points in the first half for Owen-Withee.
The second half was filled with physical play on both sides in a see-saw affair. Owen-Withee held a 42-39 lead before Noah Henchen made a steal and was fouled after making the lay-up. He made the free throw to tie the game. A.J. Ovyn then came back with a 3-pointer to put the Hawks up 45-42. Then Trunkel came back for Neillsville with a 3-pointer to tie it again at 45. The Hawks missed a jumper on their next possession and Hunter Hand of Neillsville was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws for the win.
Neillsville finished 14 of 25 from the free throw line, while the Hawks were 12 of 19. The Hawks outrebounded the Warriors 40-29. The Warriors turned it over 15 times to the Hawks 13.
Bennett led all scorers with 19, Ovyn added 11 for the Hawks. Alex King led Neillsville with 15 points, Trunkel had 12, Hand added 11.
Neillsville improved to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the ECC. Owen-Withee fell to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the ECC.
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